Montclair Magazine May 2017 | Page 44

Landscaping Cynthia Corhan-Aitken TWIG & VINE DESIGN Cynthia Corhan-Aitken was a successful bridal gown designer in New York until motherhood made constant travel to trunk shows unappealing. Happily, she found that her creative skills transferred well to landscape design, in which she became certified at the Botanical Gardens in the Bronx. The owners of this Upper Mountain property gave it a major makeover, including Corhan-Aitken’s work outdoors. CLOCKWISE FROM TOP RIGHT A picket fence replaced an excess of taxus bushes, and overgrown rhododendrons are gone from the front of the house. In June, the white and purple allium are just coming into bloom. Purple spiky nepeta adds color. Walls accommodate flowerbeds on the sloping property. Four myrtle trees are easier on the eyes than the cement path they replaced. A flat arbor supports wisteria, which was planted at the columns and grew up and across to merge and form a bed. The resulting coverage lends a snug feeling to this outdoor sitting area. ■ • • • 42 MAY 2017 MONTCLAIR MAGAZINE